(keep reading past the statistics you big silly faces)

National League

American League

Now,   I hear journalism is making a new comeback by replacing facts and story lines with smug opinions and blowhard poppycock.   So what story about baseball wouldn't be complete without the writer's predictions on what his worthless guess is for the remainder of the season.   So I give you Skinny's Picks of Naked Statistics:

First and foremost,   of course the Cubs are going to take it (duh),  but to make all involved happy in the short term we'll finish off with who I think will be leaving this year's NL playoffs early.   The Cards have put forth a great effort this year (damn that was hard to type) despite how lackluster their lineup is without Albert Pujols,  but through it all, and I'm counting on this week's four-game series against the Brewers to prove it to all,  the Cardinals simply don't have what it takes to be playing in the postseason.   I don't think the Brewers can up the Cubs,  but with a second place finish in the Central Division they're all but certain the Wild Card.    

As for the East...     gag!     I'm still picking the Dodgers to win this series,  but with the worst record they'd pit them against the Cubs...    so really what's the point?   All that hard work to be humiliated.    

However in the West,   things aren't so easy to state.   The Phillies and the Mets especially have had quite the surge as of recent,   and neither show any signs of letting up.   It'll make for another interesting race in baseball,  but I foresee the Phillies taking the division.   Since when are the Mets capable of greatness?

Still calling a Brewers / Cubs NL Title game,   but i say Cubs in 4.   Whether they win it all in Wrigleyville or Wrigley North,   there will still be quite a party.

In the AL, who cares?   They're just going to be gunning for a certain loss to the World Champion Chicago Cubs.    Oh you do care?   You don't like the Cubs?   Well fine then, let me help make your life more miserable:

Angels...   no-brainer...   they'll be there.

Sox...   good luck against those surging Twins...    but no way...   ain't happening.  Twinkies take it.

And then there's that wacky wild East Division.    Yankees,  Red Sox and now... the Rays?   Although I hate the Yankees,  and can't stand every day I have to hear my die-hard Yankee-fan co-worker,   I'm just not fortunate enough to see them NOT make it in,   not in the final year of Yankee Stadium.   That would make me happy,   so clearly it isn't going to happen.    Yankees in the Wild Card.    As for the stamina and ability and talent that it takes to actually WIN that division...  I ask you:   Who has the best possible chance of finishing 2008 strong?   Sox or Rays?   

If you said Rays,  you're out of your frigging mind!    Red Sox win it,  then probably blow it to the Yankees (in Yankee Stadium no doubt...  the media has an orgasm) and still nobody cares because the Cubs will win it all and life can finally stop spinning completely out of control.    No more war,   no more famine,  no more starving children.   Cubs win,   Cubs win,   holy cow.

With last night's Favre speech when he went "On The Record" last night, it gives the public a pretty clear idea of what Favre is dealing with. Now the Packers have to decide, do they let their spirited icon sit on the shelf and expire, or do they give him the opportunity to prove himself on the field with another team.

I absolutely understand the position of both parties involved, and by Brett Farve not having a trade clause, in turn causing a unique trade clause in itself, it brings up the topic of which teams would Favre most likely choose to play for if he had no choice but to QB for another NFL team, as well as the debate of which

Here's a list of 15 of the lowest ranking quarterbacks in the NFL. Do any of you see any teams here that may spike a little bit of interest to you?

This should put an interesting spin on the 2008 season. Not only will it make their team better, even if it's just for a year, he'd also be a great mentor for one of these young, up-and-coming quarterbacks trying to hot-shot around the NFL. I wonder if the Bears have called him yet? Perhaps the Lions? Minnesota? "Brett... it's Tuna... How's sunny Miami sound?"

Although I'm disappointed there are no Cubs in this years derby,   don't miss it.   ESPN is planning quite the hoopla and looking forward to beating this dead Yankee Stadium gimmick into the ground.   Enjoy the derby and enjoy tomorrow's game.  

Tonight's Lineup:

NL, Bats, Age, 2008 homeruns, Career homeruns
Lance Berkman, HOU, S, 32, 28 (T-7th in NL), 281
Ryan Braun, MIL, R, 24, 23(T-4th in NL), 57
Dan Uggla, FLA, R, 28, 23(T-4th in NL), 81
Chase Utley, PHI, L, 29, 25(T-3rd in NL), 122

AL, Bats, Age, 2008 homeruns, Career homeruns
Josh Hamilton, TEX, L, 27, 21 (T-2nd in AL), 40
Evan Longoria, TB, R, 22, 16(T-14th in AL), 16
Justin Morneau, MIN, L, 27, 14(T-21st in AL), 124
Grady Sizemore, CLE, L, 25, 23(1st in AL), 101

Yes,  that's right.   No Ryan Howard, no Adam Dunn, no Ortiz,  and out of the top ten HR hitters in the MLB only Sizemore is on the list for the AL.   Skinny predicts a NL derby title,   as well as an All Star victory (go Cubs!) in 2008.   We'll see how I do.    Also,  check back on Wednesday as I recap the 2008 season and make even more very bold predictions for the remaining year,   packaged fresh and ready for your scrutiny.

Sorry for the lack of posts all...
but work is keeping a brother down!
I hope the Cubs widget I added has kept you up to date.

In the meantime, let's recap:

The Cubs acquired right hander Rich Harden from the A's, along with Chad Gaudin in a trade that sent pitcher Sean Gallagher and outfielder Matt Murton, and Minor Leaguers Eric Patterson and Josh Donaldson off to Oakland. Good trade from both perspectives, the A's are looking towards the future and see a lot of good in what these 4 can potentially bring to their ball club. They're not in the central division now... so I wish them the best.

Hardin will get his first ever start today for the Cubs as he gets his first start in game 2 against the San Francisco Giants... a familiar foe for Hardin, so expect good things. Game time was bumped up to 12:05 pm today, earlier than originally scheduled. Do miss it! I'm certain Wrigley will give him a proper welcome he deserves. Hopefully he can catapult us a little closer to another series sweep, something we could definitely use given the streaking Brewers. Had it not been for those 7 homers (8 if you count Adam Dunn's homer twice) we gave up to the Reds we'd be in a little better shape (that Brew crew just don't want to lose... dammit), but when you go 2 for 3 in a series, there really isn't much room for complaints.

Speaking of homers, Jason Dubois down in the triple-A wasn't taking it easy the other night. Hitting 3 homers in consecutive at-bats and batting in 4 runs, you can pretty much say he single-handedly won the game that night in the 5-2 win over the Rock Round Express. Impressive stuff.

Not to be outdone, Aramis Ramirez gave the Cubs a much needed victory in yesterday's ball game, with a dramatic 3 run homer off the first pitch in the bottom of the 8th inning. Equal credit is due to Jason Marquis who pitched one hell of a game, giving up no runs in seven innings, yet still didn't get the benefit of a win in his column. Too bad, so sad.

Which reminds me... I can't begin to tell you how CLOSE I was go going to that game. Work got me lost and looking in Chicago with a crane hook-block destined for a customer. At one point I realized how close I was to Wrigley and just saying "fuck it" for the day and sitting and watching baseball and drinking Old Styles... in reflection: I wish I had chosen the latter.

And finally, in more roster changes for the weekend the Cubs called up Kevin Hart and sent Michael Wuertz down to Triple-A Iowa. Per MLB.com, Wuertz was 1-1 with a 3.55 ERA, and on Thursday, gave up four runs on four hits and one walk over 1 1/3 innings in relief against the Cincinnati Reds. "It's not easy to tell anybody they're going down, especially a veteran pitcher who's been here for a while," Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. "[Wuertz] needs to work on things, and he'll be able to do that."

This is Hart's third stint with the big league team. He was 2-1 with a 6.62 ERA in 12 relief appearances so far. At Iowa, the right-hander was 2-1 with a 3.35 ERA in 10 starts, including a 2.51 ERA in four starts since returning to Iowa for his recent stint. The Cubs had considered adding a position player for the final three games before the All-Star break. Instead, lefty Sean Marshall stays in the bullpen. On Thursday, Piniella used Carlos Zambrano as a pinch-hitter but will try to limit the pitchers' at-bats.

"I'm a little concerned about sending pitchers up to pinch-hit, to be honest," Piniella said. "They sit here [on the bench] and they're not entirely stretched. I'd have a lot of questions to answer if somebody got hurt doing that. I don't like doing it. We'll do the best we can for the final three games."

In Lou we Trust...
Now do get those Giants!

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